I’ve got a bad feeling Usyk is going to get done good & proper on the cards. Fury & Spencer Brown are best mates with Turki and they were his route into boxing. Fury talking about giving Turki the belts after etc. He’s also desperate to make Fury vs Joshua. I suspect there’ll be a ref who doesn’t break things up and let’s Fury do pretty much what he wants. Prediction: Usyk to win 8/9 rounds and suffer either a split draw or split loss.
Think this is a given. Usyk is going to need to force Fury to do a Daniel Dubois and spark out John Fury when he enters the ring after tagging his son.
Truthfully no, but I understand the scepticism. I'm somewhat comforted by the Wilder-Parker scores, which were absolutely rock solid - despite Joshua v Wilder being ready to announce in the ring that night. Steve Gray even scored it 120-108. That said, I've not heard of two of the judges, who per Boxing Scene are "Spain’s Manuel Oliver Palermo, Canada’s Craig Metcalfe and Jacksonville, Wisconsin's Mike Fitzgerald".
Never heard of Palermo or Fitzgerald either mate. Just seen the ref is Mark Nelson who’s never refereed a heavyweight world title fight in 990 fights.
I'd heard of Fitzgerald, so 2 of 3 between us. (quite jarring when the poster you reply to edits the question that they asked out, making it look as if I was responding to a question that wasn't asked)
Looks like Benson reads this forum and has read this thread, as he tweeted the names of the judges (without attribution to Boxing Scene) 35 minutes after I posted this. Too much of a coincidence. Message to Michael: link to your sources. It's basic journalistic ethics. Some posts for context.
I think there is a more than fair chance than Fury has the deck stacked in his favour. If Fury turns it into an ugly scrappy fight I expect him to get the nod.
I am now. The Middle East Boxing Commission are now officiating the Usyk fight, the others by the British board, according to Boxing Scene!
Yes absolutely, I’m confident about this. I think the referee could be the difference in Fury winning or not. I would love for Usyk to win this but I think Fury will have the advantage at range (slightly) and up close Usyk’s abilities will be negated by Fury’s tactics, which I reckon he’ll be able to get away with.
Alex Krassyuk was asked about this in an interview yesterday and made it clear they’re going for the stoppage to make sure there’s no chance. I’m not saying I believe Usyk will get the KO but I’m hoping, otherwise I fear a robbery. I’m sick of Fury’s behaviour.
